Philippine Air Lines plane crashes

The following are significant events involving the airline or its subsidiares. The numbered events are those involving at least one airline passenger death where the aircraft flight had a direct or indirect role, and where at least one of the dead passengers was not a stowaway, hijacker, or saboteur. Only events since 1970 are included.

1. 21 April 1970; Philippine Air Lines BAe 748; near Manila Philippines: The aircraft broke up in flight at cruise after an onboard explosion. A bomb in the lavatory was suspected. All four crew members and 32 passengers were killed.

2. 3 February 1975; Philippine Air Lines BAe 748; near Manila Philippines: The right engine caught fire shortly after takeoff and the aircraft crashed during the emergency return to the airport. The fire was apparently caused by a failure in the right engine. All five crew members and 27 passengers were killed.

3. 23 May 1976; Philippine Air Lines BAC 111; Mindanao Philippines: The aircraft was hijacked and some of the 82 passengers released. During negotiations, the aircraft caught fire as a result of gunfire and a grenade explosion. Eleven of the remaining passengers and three of the six hijackers were killed.

4. 18 August 1978; Philippine Air Lines BAC 111; en route to Manila Philippines: A bomb exploded in a lavatory, killing a passenger. The aircraft was able to continue to flight and land safely.

5. 26 June 1987; Philippine Air Lines BAe 748; near Baguio Philippines: The aircraft was destroyed when in flew into high ground about nine miles (14.4 km) from the airport during a daylight flight in poor weather and heavy rain. All four crew members and 46 passengers were killed.

6. 13 December 1987; Philippine Air Lines Shorts 360; Mindanao, Philippines: The aircraft crashed into Mt. Gurain during a daylight flight in poor weather. All four crew members and 11 passengers were killed.

7. 11 May 1990; Philippine Airlines 737-300; Manila, Philippines: While the aircraft was taxiing, one of the fuel tanks exploded. Eight of the 113 passengers were killed.

8. 11 December 1994; Philippine Airlines 747-200; Pacific Ocean: A small bomb detonated under a seat, killing one of the 287 passengers. The person who planted the bomb boarded the plane on the first leg from Manila to Cebu, and left the flight at Cebu. The bomb exploded en route to Tokyo, and the crew diverted to Okinawa.